Acquainted with the Night

Acquainted with the Night Weaving together science and storytelling art and anthropology Dewdney takes readers on a fascinating journey through the nocturnal realm In twelve chapters corresponding to the twelve hours of nigh

Title: Acquainted with the Night

Author: Christopher Dewdney

ISBN: 9781596917682

Page: 138

Format: ebook

Weaving together science and storytelling, art and anthropology, Dewdney takes readers on a fascinating journey through the nocturnal realm In twelve chapters corresponding to the twelve hours of night, he illuminates night s central themes, including sunsets, nocturnal animals, bedtime stories, festivals of the night, fireworks, astronomy, nightclubs, sleep and dreams, tWeaving together science and storytelling, art and anthropology, Dewdney takes readers on a fascinating journey through the nocturnal realm In twelve chapters corresponding to the twelve hours of night, he illuminates night s central themes, including sunsets, nocturnal animals, bedtime stories, festivals of the night, fireworks, astronomy, nightclubs, sleep and dreams, the graveyard shift, the art of darkness, and endless nights With infectious curiosity, a lyrical, intimate tone, and an eye for nighttime beauties both natural and man made, Christopher Dewdney paints a captivating portrait of our hours in darkness Christopher Dewdney is the author of three books of nonfiction Last Flesh, The Secular Grail, and The Immaculate Perception as well as eleven books of poetry A three time nominee for Governor General s Awards and a first prize winner of the CBC Literary Competition, Dewdney lives in Toronto, Ontario As you read these pages, your life will change, because the way you see half of it will change The night we re all familiar with will emerge as a fresh thing, deeper, fuller, older, younger, evocative, intimate, larger, spectacular and, yes, magical, and much thrilling Margaret Atwood, Globe and Mail A felicitous literary gambol from dusk till dawnDewdney throws himself headlong into the deep pool of his subject Sue Halpern, Newsday An enjoyable and instructive read Sven Birkerts, Boston Globe Also available HC 1 58234 396 9 24.95

One thought on “Acquainted with the Night”

This book was a fluke find in the $2 bin at a local bookstore, readers will understand when I say “it found me”. Who knew? The night, it harbours our fears, exposes our weaknesses but the darkness is a pivotal key to our health and the health of our planet. Unearth a primal sense that is weakening as our nights become artificially brightened. It was a fantastic ride getting “Acquainted with the Night".

"Whenever we look into the night sky, we look back in time, back towards the beginning of the universe."First off, I'd like to say that this is a truly enjoyable read, one that ended with this reader feeling childlike, resting on a grassy hill free of bugs, the celestial tapestry of the night sky wheeling above, eyes wide with wonderment.I call these types of works "umbrella books." By that I mean the author takes an abstract concept (e.g night, the ocean, war, love, etc.) and then creates a cor [...]

If there was ever a book to page through when you're stuck on a red-eye flight and you simply cannot sleep, this is it. Moving hour by hour through an "ideal night," Dewdney rambles and meanders through a wide range of topics. The book never goes terribly deep into any particular subject, but the point here is breadth not depth. Rather than read it cover-to-cover, you can pick and choose your way through it, and you're bound to find something that will draw you in: the animal world, nocturnal fe [...]